Newspapers / Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / July 19, 2003, edition 1 / Page 1
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■ & CAROLIN !■> S 0* Puiuiv of gay marriage in hands of young? Vieiiiam Vet files challenge over ‘Dont Ask, Don't Teir Music reviews: Out Music award winners Churches confront ss> Greenwood, S.C. paper claims child molesters released because of sodomy repeal ONLINE wwiv.q-nctesxom' Ifyou wereairested and charged with violating a sodomy law, would you challenge it in court? .Yes .No .POLL RESULTS: noted . notobie . noteworthy GLBT issues iP raTo m Activista de derechos humanos 9 Black lesbian heath survey needs you VOLUME 18 . ISSUE 5 SINCE 198« WWW. ^-NOTES. COM JULY 19 . 2003 Playing ping-pong with N.C sodomy laws Loud debate from a conservative county commissioner and a gay former judge bring the issue to the forefront of the media by Leslie McKenzie charlotte and Mecklenburg County apparently have the dubious distinction of being the first state to openly defy the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning sodomy laws in 13 states. The Charlotte- Mecklenburg police department has issued statements indicating that police officers will still use the Crime Against Nature (CAN) law to arrest people on suspicion of meeting in public and arranging to perform sodomy in a public place or at an unspeci fied place. At the forefront of the ongoing debate are two men: openly gay former Superior Court Judge Ray Warren, who’s now work ing in private practice; and a familiar foe of Charlotte’s LGBT community, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James. ■ James, as most will remember, spearhead ed the 1998 move ment to suspend arts funding to Actor’s Theater because of a presen tation of “Angels in America” which in cluded a scene that depicted gay sex. His belief that LGBT people are a blight on the face of the city continues, unabated. He has actively petitioned Mecklenburg County District Attorney Peter Gilchrist and N.C. District Attorney Roy Cooper to uphold the “Crime >^ainst Nature” law. “For your office to overturn current state law,” James Charlotte-Mecklenburg police soy they'll still prosecute potential viola tors under the state's existing sodomy law. writes, “would be to open.the door to see LAWS on 8 Operation Save America takes aim at Charlotte Conservative group sets its sights on local LGBT community by David Moore Q-Notes staff In the early 1990s the Christian-based, politically conservative Operation Save America (OSA) was known as Operation Flip Benham's Operatian Save America (seen here protesting Charlotte Pride - Benham is on the right) has dwindled in size since the original group's founding in 1990. Rescue, with literally thousands of followers focusing on the issue of abortion. In 1991, the organization held a conven tion that lasted for over a month in Wichita, Kan. In their zeal to bring an anti-choice message to anyone that would listen, more than 2,500 members were arrested. These days attendance seems to have dropped off a bit, with followers numbering only in the hundreds at national meetings. An estimated 600 gathered in 2001 in Wichita. Similar numbers met last year in Dallas. The group’s notorious director, the Rev. Philip “Flip” Benham, moved the organiza tion from Texas to N.C. just this past year. According to Benham, Charlotte and the sur rounding area are ripe for OSA. Despite the dwindling numbers of the group, the area’s LGBT community can expect their presence to have an impact — albeit a small one. “I think the gay agenda, or the sin is a threat here,” Benham tells Cl-Notes. “As a matter of fact, when you look at Texas vs. Lawrence, you see that America is not long for this world.” Outlandish statements like that are com mon for Benham. His flair for melodrama leads to such production numbers as what he has planned for a finale to his convention in Charlotte: a demonstration that will include nine caskets — one for each of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices vrho overturned the Texas Sodomy law. Benham was also recently arrested for tres passing in front of a southwest Charlotte abor tion clinic when he stepped over a line that marked where demonstrators were allowed to stand. Instead of posting a $500 bond, he chose to stay in jail until his court date, apparently seizing the opportunity for publicity. At press time, OSA’s planned protest out side MCC Charlotte on Eastway Drive was the kick-off demonstration for the right-wing, anti-gay, anti-choice and anti-Islam group’s convention that continued in Charlotte through July 18. “There’s not going to be anything going on in the building when they’re down here,” says MCC pastor Mick Hinson, who ques tions the purpose of the demonstration. “They’re not protesting an event. They’re just looking at the traffic going up and down Eastway.” During the morning rush hour, it’s clear Benham’s followers will have quite an audience. “We’re not protesting anybody,” says Benham. "We’re bringing the gospel, right into the folks that are lost in homosexual bondage and slavery and lust. Those that are lost in a false religion like Islam and into a place where little baby boys and girls are being slaughtered everyday. “We’re gonna’ read through the entire Bible on the streets of Charlotte. It’s called ’Word & Warfare.’ There are 20 different places we’re planning on being at.” Members of MCC Charlotte clearly aren’t unfamiliar with Benham. He and a group of see SAVE on 6
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